A tankless water heater can be a great choice to provide hot water, as well as to save energy. With continuing improvements, tankless hot water heater companies are offering options today that were unavailable just a few years ago. If you are considering adding one or more of these units to your house, these guidelines on how to choose a tankless water heater should help you in your decision-making process.

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Steps

Method 1 of 3: Define Your Expectations

1

Understand the pros and cons of owning a tankless water heater. On the pro side, a tankless water heater can provide an endless supply of hot water. You don’t have the standby energy loss with a tankless water heater that you do with a standard model that keeps a large quantity of water ready. It saves energy and has a smaller carbon footprint due to its smaller physical size which uses less materials and subsequently reduces transportation costs. Life expectancy is 20 years or more and they are less prone to corrosion since there is no water tank. Parts are also easily replaceable which can extend their life even further. On the con side, if the system isn't adequate for your home, you will never have the hot water you desire. It is really important that you choose the right system and that it is properly installed. Tankless hot water heaters are more expensive than their conventional counterparts and cost more to install.

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2

Tankless water heaters are more expensive than conventional tank heaters but still can provide a return on investment. It can take several years to realize the extra savings because of the expensive initial cost and potential extra dollars spent on proper installation.

3

Understand that you may or may not receive tax credits and incentives based on your location.

Method 2 of 3: Decide What Type You Want

1

Consider natural gas or propane. This type of tankless heating system must have vents to the exterior of the house. You also must have adequate gas line piping. Gas tankless water heaters can produce greater water flow (gpm) gallons per minute with higher temperature rise so are better for whole house systems than electric.

2

Look at electrical tankless heaters. Your house’s electrical set up must be able to provide adequate amperage, voltage and a circuit breaker.

3

Realize that even if you install a gas model, it must have electrical connections to operate the sensors and switches. These connections must also meet amperage and voltage requirements and may have to have a separate circuit breaker.

4

Check with your local town or city officials regarding building code requirements in your area.

5

Evaluate long-term utility rates in your area as you study how to choose a tankless water heater. This may be the final determining factor in choosing a gas or electric model.

6

Factor in installation options including space requirements for the tankless heater. Furthermore, factor in labor and material costs of installation.

Method 3 of 3: Determine the Right Model for Your Needs

1

Know what the groundwater temperature is for your location. A Florida home may have warmer groundwater temperatures than a New England home. A colder temperature means your tankless heater needs to work harder to provide your water because it requires a greater temperature rise.

2

Get a tankless heater that provides enough hot water for the needs of your family. There are many online calculators to help you with this step of the process. It is important that a tankless water heater works within its capacity so you need to know your required flow rate (gpm) and your temperature rise (which is the difference between your inlet or incoming water temperature and outlet temperature or the desired temperature of hot water)

3

Decide whether you want a point-of-use tankless heater in each area where you use water or a whole-house system.

4

Look for safety details. Automatic sensors that detect carbon monoxide and automatically shut down the system when the heat exchanger overheats should be on any model you consider.

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Don’t assume your plumber or electrician knows how to install tankless water heaters. Because this is a relatively new appliance, you may want to consider hiring factory-trained technicians to install your new water heaters.

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